14 finalists unveiled for Miss Grand KL 2020

The 14 beauties vying for the title of Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020 have been announced at a press conference at Swiss-Garden Hotel Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur on Feb 15.

The contestants from diverse backgrounds and interests were selected after going through weeks of auditions to prove their worth for the competition.

Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020 state director Linda Talip said this year’s competition promised to be the most exciting pageant ever. She urged everyone to lend their support to ensure the successful hosting of the event.

Also present were Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur backstage manager Buci, Swiss-Garden Hotel Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur director of sales Christine Wong and marcom manager CJ Kalavaani Karupiah.

The present of Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2019 pageant winners champion Kishweni,  first runner-up Chermaine Kang and second runner-up Anna Jhia-Jhia Tan added more glamour to the event.

At the press conference, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020 Pageant and Swiss-Garden Garden Hotel Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

The grand finale of Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020 will be held at the Swiss Garden Hotel Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur on March 15, 2020.

The champion and first-runner will go on to compete at the national level for Miss Grand Malaysia 2020 at the end of June this year. MGM organisation said the venue has yet to be decided but it will be hosted either in Kuala Lumpur or Kuching with total of 24 Miss Grand Malaysia finalists competing for the grand title.

Citizen Journalists Malaysia (CJMY) asked four of the contestants for an interview to get to know them better.

18-year-old Melissa Aurellia Claretta Quek is all set to compete in the Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020 pageant. She is of mixed German, Thai, Indonesian and Chinese heritage and can speak fluently in nine languages and dialects including Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, English, Malay, Jawa, Sunda, Indonesian and Thai.

“By joining the Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020 I really hope to learn something different, something that can be used to make the world a better place towards helping our societies on how to stop wars with kindness.

“I want to be the best person with character and self-respect and do no avoidable harm to others, and I want to use this platform to pass these principles onto the younger generation in the hope that one day idealism will meet reality, she said.

The 166 cm (5’ 5”) tall beauty has won various pageants in Penang and Kuala Lumpur including Vogue for Virtue Kids 2012, Mini Model Search Penang 2013, Little Princess Penang 2013 and Little Miss Cheongsam Malaysia 2014 (1st runner-up and Miss Photogenic).

She also competed where she was placed Top 6 Miss Multinational Malaysia 2018, Top 6 Miss Teen Malaysia 2018 and Top 15 Finalists Miss Virtual Malaysia 2019 (Miss Best Catwalk).

“I can say that I’ve learned so much from competing in pageants and modeling competitions. I’ve learned how to love and accept every inch of me more in every aspect than I used to, and pageant really makes me learn more about myself and what I’m truly capable of.  I’ve learned about perspectives, always be prepared to face any obstacles and also always expect the unexpected.

“I got involved in modelling and beauty pageants competitively since being a small child growing up in Penang. I’ve been dancing since I was three. I‘ve learned ballet dance, Latin dance, rhythmic gymnastics as well as Chinese traditional dance. All these have helped boost my confidence,” she said.

Born and raised in Penang, Melissa moved to Kuala Lumpur at the age of 16. She is a part-time student and working several jobs to help fund her education. She has been surviving and living independently and financially on her own without her parents support when she was 15.

Melissa has started a double bachelor’s degree course in law and business at Taylor’s University. She also works part-time as a manicurist, a personal 1-1 catwalk guru for kids and teens from age 4 to 20, and an assistant coach for Latin dance and rhythmic gymnastics.

“I study and work at the same time since secondary school. I’ve worked a lot of jobs and I’ve been working since I was 14 years old and it isn’t easy to find something you love to do with passion and at the same time put it up as a job that fulfils you.

“The reason I work three to four jobs instead of one is because I believe there’s always up and down in our life and if one thing doesn’t work out, you have to always be ready and have backup plan,” she said.

Melissa said trying to balance study time with work can be a real challenge but that has given her the confidence and discipline she needs to build her career and a better life.

In her free time, she enjoys cooking and loves spending time outdoors; hiking, rock climbing and kayaking.

Customer service officer Poorani Rajoo, 23, from Klang, is elated to be selected as a finalist in her first attempt at pageant participation.

“My reason for joining this pageant is to enjoy and explore new environment. I hope I can learn a good public approach speaking in front of a large crowd and gain self-confidence cat-walking on high heels.

“I believe competing in a pageant will help me to stretch, grow and learn more about myself and what I am truly capable of, and to cultivate self-love regardless of the ways that others criticize me,” she said.  

The 170 cm (5’ 7”) tall beauty was inspired and motivated to join the pageant by Melissa Jespoh Raj who was second runner-up of Miss World Malaysia 2019.

“Winning a pageant comes with a lot of opportunities and a good future but I believe it’s not only about the crown. As a finalist of Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020, I believe this is the correct platform to emphasize my thoughts on improving the societal response regarding sexual violence.

“I would like to use this opportunity to educate our society to approach sexual violence from a public health perspective with emphasis on primary prevention strategies including efforts to change social norms, behaviors and practices to cultivate a community climate free from sexual violence,” she said.

Poorani loves her job helping customers get the most out of their needs and when she receives a compliment or a ‘Thank you’ from customers, it really make her day.

The Klang-ite loves exploring more delicious food and her interests include dancing and physical workout. Her ambition is to become a successful motivational speaker one day.

Jocelyn Lee Jia Xin, 20, a student, from Puchong, is a first-time pageant-goer. She decided to give it a try after she saw a poster calling for Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2020 auditions.

”I approached the audition with hope but no high expectations, and so I was pleasantly surprised to be selected a finalist. This is something new for me, new experiences, new environment and everything is new.

“The pageant offers a chance for me to learn new things, get to meet more people besides helping to build my confidence level and public speaking skill. I really look forward to enjoying the pageant journey, results don’t really matter,” she said.

This 168cm (5’ 6”) tall beauty dreams of becoming a criminal psychologist.

“I’m studying at INTI Subang, majoring in psychology. Since secondary school I have already thought of becoming a criminal psychologist. I was curious to know why serial killers exhibit different behaviour and the causes of their behaviour, and why they want to kill people in such way.

“A lot of people asked me, ‘Why choose this course, it’s hard to study’. To me, if you really interested in it, you won’t think is hard, everything become easier.”  

Lee loves bowling as she used to be a state bowling player and her other interests include ice-skating, dancing, travelling, shopping and eating.

Customer care executive Goh Jia Rong, 26, who was born in Penang and now resides in Kepong, dreams of operating a chalet by the beach at the age of 40.

Currently working in an online travel agency, she hopes to use the knowledge gained in the travel industry to her advantage in the future.

Goh is excited to take part in the pageant and is looking forward to learn from experienced organizers and former beauty queens so that she will be better prepared.

“Joining the pageant gives me the motivation to do every single thing that I have dreamed but did absolutely nothing. Pageant is like being a mom who spurs me on to realise my goals and make me a better person that I want to be,” said the 166 cm (5’ 5”) tall beauty who last year ended as one of the finalists of Miss World Malaysia 2019.

“I’m ready and feeling excited. I believe in giving my best effort and that is what I always do. Win or lose, competition always makes one stronger. If I win myself the opportunity to represent Malaysia at international level, I would use this platform to inspire many girls out there if i can do it then they can do it too, and also to learn and polish up to being a travel influencer with the purpose of introducing culture and raising awareness of social issues,” she added.

In her free time, Goh enjoys travelling, swimming and learning culture.